Club Twisted owner gave up liquor license due to unsafe building

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — The owner of Club Twisted said Tuesday she closed the private club in Berkeley County because the building was condemned, not because of investigations that ensued after recent fatal stabbing and shooting incidents in the club's parking lot.

Brandhl "Brandy" Boyd said she surrendered her state license to serve alcohol for the club at 5268 Williamsport Pike after the building, which she doesn't own, was deemed unsafe on Nov. 29 for human occupancy by the Berkeley County Engineering Department.

The structure, which caught fire the day before Thanksgiving, failed an electrical inspection, Boyd said.

The shooting happened on Nov. 26 when Jadakiss, a well-known rapper, performed at the club, Boyd said.

That night, Boyd said the club had 18 bouncers on staff and there was only one incident inside the club that involved two females, who were removed from the premises.

"We ... did everything we could to prevent any incident," Boyd said.

In addition to having bouncers with jail guard experience on staff, Boyd said Berkeley County Sheriff's Office deputies also were monitoring the rap concert a short distance from the property.

Police arrested two Hagerstown men shortly after the shooting, but have yet to make an arrest in the fatal stabbing, which happened in the club's parking lot on Sept. 25.

Boyd said the stabbing happened "after hours" and did not involve anyone who had been inside the club that night.

Boyd said the club had nothing to do with the incidents and said the situation has been "blown way out of proportion."

"We are out of business ... we're (now) just hoping to move on with our lives," Boyd said.

Boyd's license, which issued by the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration, wasn't due to expire until June 2012, according to the state agency's license database.

ABCA spokesman Gary "Gig" Robinson declined to comment on Boyd's decision to surrender her license Tuesday. Robinson previously said the state agency was conducting their own investigation to determine whether the violence was connected in any way with the club.

Boyd maintained that the recent crimes were not reflective of how she operated the club, which had supported charitable activities in the community.

Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect or who witnessed the stabbing may contact Deputy St. Clair at 304-267-7000 or Berkeley County Crime Solvers at 304-267-4999.